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A 180-Degree Turn in the Gabon–Aubameyang Saga After AFCON 2025 Exit
What looked like a breaking point after a painful exit has taken a dramatic turn. Gabon has reversed course—and Aubameyang is back in the picture.
Sanctions lifted after controversial decision
The Gabonese Football Federation has announced the lifting of government-imposed measures against the national team and forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang following Gabon’s premature elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Gabon endured a disastrous AFCON 2025 campaign, losing all three Group F matches against Cameroon, Mozambique, and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire in Morocco. In the immediate aftermath, the country’s then-Minister of Sports appeared on national television to announce the suspension of the national team, its captain Aubameyang, and defender Bruno Ecuele Manga.
FIFA pressure and a change of course
Those measures quickly raised red flags within international football. Government interference in the affairs of football federations is strictly prohibited under FIFA regulations, and the sanctions risked triggering a suspension of Gabonese football from international competition.
Following a change at the Ministry of Sports, the newly appointed minister, Paul Ulrich Kessany, moved swiftly to reverse the decision and ease tensions.
Official confirmation from the federation
In a statement released on Monday, the Gabonese Football Federation confirmed the reversal.
“The government measures suspending the national team, as well as the exclusion of players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga, have been lifted following the poor results of the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations,” the federation said.
The statement also noted that Minister Kessany stressed the urgency of upcoming commitments, particularly with an eye on the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Focus shifts back to the future
With the sanctions now lifted, Gabon avoids a potential standoff with FIFA and can begin the process of rebuilding after a painful AFCON campaign. For Aubameyang, the decision restores his status within the national team setup and brings an abrupt end to a saga that briefly threatened to overshadow his international legacy.
What began as a punitive reaction has now turned into a reset—one that allows Gabonese football to move forward without institutional conflict.
